UN: 258 Civilians Killed in Somalia in January
Aid Group Slams Govt, AU for Targeting Civilian Neighborhoods
Spokeswoman Axelle de la Motte St. Pierre of Doctors Without Borders hit out at the Somali Armed Forces today over indiscriminate shelling of residential areas in the capital city of Mogadishu. Troops of both the Somali government and African Union have repeatedly come under criticism for shelling civilian neighborhoods in recent months.
Clashes in Mogadishu and Central Somalia are taking a growing toll on the civilian population of the region. According to the United Nations 258 civilians were killed in clashes in January alone, and another 80,000 people were displaced from their homes.
AU troops have come under increasing scrutiny for shelling civilians, including two major incidents last month. The first involved AU troops shelling a pair of insurgent controlled neighborhoods in response to an attack on the presidential palace. In the second, AU troops shelled a playground, killing seven children playing soccer.
The AU and Somali government have defended the killings, saying they only attack regions known to be under insurgent control. Yet with the Somali government controlling only a few blocks around the presidential palace, that puts nearly the entire nation under control of one insurgent faction or another.
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Omar M
February 4th, 2010 at 11:31 pm
As most of us know, the UNSC passed resolution (1907) against Eritrea for supporting the people of Somalia. Eritrea believes that the people of Somalia must be allowed to resolve the problems afflicting the nation without outside interference. Believe it or not this is why the UNSC under pressure from the US passed the sanctions resolution in the cover of the x-mass holiday. The timing is designed to provide cover for the illegal manuvering, just as the illegal invasion of Somalia by Ethiopia was done at the same time in 2006. Eritreans today are loudly objecting to the shady ruling that passed in the name of the UNSC, will demonstrate around the globe. Lets join the Eritreans not only to show unity but also to bring much needed attention to the illegal activites being carried out in Africa and particularly the horn regions.
nonpareal
February 5th, 2010 at 2:12 am
Of all the people in that region the Eritreans are the most westernized primarily because of the Italian influece.